In reply to Olek Longthrow (msg # 630):

Conrad nods.

Once the AutoGnome is loaded up and his team is prepared, he leads them onto the island -- weapons near at hand.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 631):

While the group thinks about whether to take the hand with them to the island or leave it behind, Olek orders Sven to use the time on the surface to have repair crews work on the outside of the sub.

In reply to Olek Longthrow (msg # 632):

*shrugs*

That hand is... creepy.  I say leave it.

Jeeves, store the hand please.

The AutoGnome steps forward, takes the cloth-wrapped hand, and deposits it in the new cargo box.  Uthor locks it and pockets the key.

Let's get rid of that thing...

He shivers.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 634):

James smiles and looks at Oleks back

Can we blow up the hand using a torpedo?  Certainly a torpedo can destroy something that fragile.

The captain visibly winces and james smiles like cat toying with a mouse.

In reply to James (msg # 635):

"We're taking the hand with us," Conrad says. "You're welcome to stay here with the torpedoes if you'd prefer to spend your shore leave working the wrenches with the rest of the crew, but I thought perhaps you'd prefer to get some sun."

Conrad gives the appropriate orders, salutes the Captain, and heads topside to the shore.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 636):

James sneers at Conrad

I didn't say I was staying... I just don't want the damn thing around.

In reply to James (msg # 637):

Olek unlocks the safe and allows Uthor to place it carefully (and without touching it directly) into the AutoGnome where it is secured with lock and key.

Equipped and ready, the team head up the tower of the Red Spring and into the fresh air and sunshine.

Instead of a warm breeze, however, you are met by the smell of salt tinged with a chill that seems to be flowing out from the island itself.  The island is small but densely tree'd and varies in elevation from near sea level at the dock to reasonably high and pointed peaks.  From this distance, you can see that the higher peaks are topped with ice even though they don't seem tall enough to warrant such.  The trees in higher points look to be likewise frozen.

"Unnatural, I'd say," one crewman grunts as he hefts a hydro-spammer over one shoulder.

The dock is visible in the distance and you can make out the stone watchtower poking up above the treeline just beyond.

Carefully, the dinghy is detached from the upper hull and filled with your equipment.  The Gnomes load in a few large bundles of basic supplies (rations, water, purification tablets, bedrools, flint/steel, tent).

Olek takes up residence on the tower, eyeing the island through a spyglass with a frown plastered to his face.  Elsewhere, crewmen climb all over the surface inspecting the hull damage from your earlier escapades.  Sven stands to one side listening to reports and ordering this repair or that.

One Gnome's voice cuts through the others.

"Sir, Chief... Lt. Commander, Captain!"

Conrad, Olek and Sven rush over to.  The crewman points to a series of small markings on the top aft of the ship's hull.

"These marks, sirs, looks like marks from metal clamps of some kind."

In reply to GM (msg # 638):

"That might explain have the special ops gnomes boarded us," Conrad growls.  "See if there are any more, and do what you can to make clamping to our ship more difficult."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 639):

Probably a small boarding vessel, or else a scout or escape submersible.

He glowers at the island for a moment.

Could do a wide sonar ping to see if there are any more on us or if they're nearby, but at the moment I don't know that it's advisable.

He turns to Sven.  First, Chief, get some Gnomes in suits to walk the hull, make sure they're armed.  THEN see to repairs.

He gestures to the boat.  You lot had better get going.  We'll keep eyes on the dock for your return or if you need to signal.

In reply to Olek Longthrow (msg # 640):

Conrad tucks a signal flare into his gear, assuming the ship has one, and then leads the ship ashore.

***

Arriving (presumably) without trouble, he docks the boat and clomps onto the cold, forested island ground. He glances around himself, and -- should nothing be amiss -- begins to pick his way toward the tower.

[Notice: 5]

"Keep an eye out," he says quietly. "Could be friends or foes here."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 641):

James hides with some efficacy behind a barrel as the team warily walks out (stealth 4).  He keeps an eye out as Conrad says (notice 4).

Uthor looks around, taking in the surroundings.

[Notice 4]

He pops the Attack cartridge back into the Autognome, equipping it with a repeater.

In reply to James (msg # 642):

The row to the island is uneventful.  Hom and Magnis put their backs to the oars and have you to the docks within a half an hour.  The only sounds apart from the slapping of oar and the creak of oarlock is the constant rumbling of water over the coral atoll to the East.

The dock is a simple affair of felled trees lashed together and secured to the land with ropes.  You secure the longboat and climb out one by one.  While Hom, Magnis and the AutoGnome pull your equipment out of the boat, you have a moment to look around.

There is a thin rocky beach which gives way quickly to thick green grass for several meters before the treeline begins.  Most of these are the same tall thin pine trees that crowd together as if for warmth.

Speaking of warmth, there is a distinct chill in the still air.  If you hold still, you can hear the sounds of the ocean, but no birds or any other small animal.

At the land end of the dock, where it is secured to driven log pylons, a crude dirt road has been cut out of the grass and forged through the trees.  It enters the woods and curves slightly to the left toward where the tower pokes up over the treetops.

Just before the treeline, there is a small assemblage of equipment, which you recognize immediately as Human-made.  There are two hand-carts loaded with small barrels and a number of axes, picks and shovels in a neat row along the road.

In reply to GM (msg # 644):

Parts

James mutters his mouth going slack.  He shambles towards Conrad.

In reply to James (msg # 645):

At Conrad's command, Magni uncovers the carts, revealing their contents.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 646):

The barrels are sealed with tar and wax, but open easily enough.

Between the two wagons are nine barrels.  These contain:

-Salted pork
-Hard tack x2
-Salted fish
-Water
-Small Beer
-Medicines, oil, incense, salves, clean cloth, bottle of wine
-Paper, ink, quills, blank scrolls
-Dried fruits and vegetables

There are also a variety of hand tools.  Axe, shovel, pick, saw.

In reply to GM (msg # 647):

James runs up and grabs the medicine, oil, salves, clean cloth and the bottle of wine and stuffs them in his medics pouch. He also grabs the paper, ink quill and blank scrolls (I assume everything is blank? He examines the papers to verify.)

Is it too mcuh to ask for an amulet of warding, or some kind of bow of a minor deity?  Come on this mundane crap is so boring.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:57, Tue 25 Mar 2014.

In reply to James (msg # 648):

Conrad tries to figure out how long the cart and its contents have been left to the elements.

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 649):

As James rummages through the medical and scribner supplies, he quickly realizes that there is too much for him to carry alone, there being two barrels worth.

He settles on the most important things: some medicine, oil and salves, some ink and quills, a battle of wine, a strip of cloth and a few blank scrolls.

You cannot see any overt signs of wear or damage to the carts and barrels.  The wheels are not sunken into the ground, nothing has built a nest in or on the carts. there is no rust on the metal and the wood is not dried out.  It is unlikely these things have been here for more than a few days.

In reply to GM (msg # 650):

AUTOFOLLOW

Alveris hangs back, twirling the girls and looking adept.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:54, Tue 25 Mar 2014.

Uthor hefts the pick, testing its weight and balance.

In reply to Uthor son of Magnusson (msg # 652):

Conrad nods thoughtfully at the cart, then glances up at the tower.

"Any colors up there?" he asks, squinting against the sun to look for flags or banners. "And any hoofprints along the road? It's an odd place for a cart to just sit idle."

In reply to Conrad Deepsavior (msg # 653):

What you can see of the tower, only a story or so, is cold irregular stone mortared perfectly and inexpensively.  Perhaps quickly built, but it looks efficient and sturdy.  Very much Gnomish style.

However, there are no flags of any kind.

In the hard packed earthen road, you see numerous footprints.  Mostly they are larger than Gnomish, Human or Fey sized.  There are also numerous tracks that look to be from some smaller creature like a goat or sheep.

The carts, though large for a Gnome, are sized to be Human hand-carts.

The pick is sized for a Human, and so is comically large for a Gnome.  Not unusable, but cumbersome.

A wind stirs the grass and brings not only a slight chill but the unmistakable smell of death.

In reply to GM (msg # 654):

[OOG: Everyone can refresh bennies.]